Moment transgender runner is booed as she cruises past 400m finish line, winning herself a place in Oregon state championships

A transgender teen athlete was booed as she crossed the finish line in a 400-meter race at the Oregon state championships.

Aayden Gallagher appeared to win her heat on Friday with a time of 55.25 seconds.

Her performance earned her one of five places in two heats in the final, which takes place on Saturday.

The tenth grader finished second overall in both heats, behind Josie Donelson, who won her heat to narrowly propel her into first place with a time of 55.04, Athletic Live reported.

Sophie Castaneda was in third place overall and second behind Gallagher with a time of 55.65 seconds, according to the outlet.

Even before the victory, her participation in the race was criticized by Republican lawmakers, who called for a regulation change after Gallagher claimed a victory in the 400 meters in an earlier race.

In a clip shared online, cheers could be heard in the background as Gallagher crossed the finish line.

Even before the victory, her participation in the race was criticized by Republican lawmakers, who called for a regulation change after Gallagher scored a victory in the 400 meters in an earlier race.

Oregon State Activities Association rules allow athletes to compete in a category that aligns with their gender identity without having to provide proof of medical transition.

The controversy flared again after footage of Gallagher’s most recent race was shared by Riley Gaines, a former NCAA swimmer who is campaigning against allowing trans athletes to compete in women’s sports.

Gaines claimed that Gallagher “dominated” her most recent heat on Friday and asked, “When will we see coaches and parents stand up to this mockery?”

The campaigner previously drew attention to Gallagher when she shared another video last month of the McDaniel High School sophomore driving to victory in a race at the Sherwood Need for Speed ​​Classic.

Gaines became an anti-trans activist after finishing tied for fifth with transgender swimmer Lia Thomas at a 2022 swimming meet. However, Thomas was presented with the trophy to Gaines.

The Kentucky swimmer has since joined forces with a dozen college athletes who filed a lawsuit against the NCAA on Thursday, accusing it of violating their Title IX rights by allowing Thomas to compete.

The controversy flared again after footage of Gallagher’s most recent race was shared by Riley Gaines, a former NCAA swimmer who has campaigned against allowing trans athletes to compete in women’s sports.

Gaines claimed that Gallagher “dominated” her most recent heat on Friday and asked, “When will we see coaches and parents stand up to this mockery?”

OSAA Executive Director Peter Weber has defended the organization’s trans-inclusive policies.

“Oregon law has long prohibited discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation,” he wrote in a letter to his critics.

“In 2019, the Oregon Department of Education changed the rules from defining “sexual orientation” to include “gender identity.” The Oregon Legislature also changed the definition of “sexual orientation” to include “gender identity.”